Outside the Schale building, Hayase Yuuka paced restlessly beneath the soft light of the moon. Her boots echoed faintly on the pavement as she walked back and forth, arms folded, brows drawn tight in worry.
Did I go too far?
She clenched her jaw, trying to dismiss the thought, but it lingered. Her words from earlier—stern, urgent—had echoed more like accusations than concern. Did Lina hate her now?
"Yuuka," Hinomiya Chinatsu called softly from nearby, her voice calm as always. She leaned against the vehicle, arms folded casually, eyes following Yuuka's anxious rhythm. "You don't have to torment yourself like this. Sensei's talking to her, isn't he?"
"I know, but…" Yuuka's voice wavered. "I can't stop thinking that maybe I hurt her. She looked at me like I was just another person trying to control her life."
Morizuki Suzumi sighed inside the vehicle, her cheek pressed against the cool window. "When are we going home?" she muttered, her tone more sleepy than impatient.
Meanwhile, Hanekawa Hasumi sat in the front passenger seat, silent and composed, arms crossed as she stared ahead. She wasn't the type to voice her thoughts easily, but the tension in her jaw said she was deep in them.
The sound of the building's automatic doors hissed open, and the group turned.
Sensei stepped out first, waving casually with his usual half-hearted energy. Yuuka straightened immediately, about to ask how Lina was—but then she saw her.
Behind Sensei, half-hidden by the back of his coat, Lina stood. Her hand clung nervously to the hem of his jacket.
He looked back over his shoulder at her with a gentle smile. "What are you waiting for, Lina?" he said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. Then, with a soft nudge, he encouraged her forward.
Lina turned to him with a betrayed expression, as if to say How could you? but reluctantly, she stepped forward.
Now standing in front of Yuuka, Lina shifted awkwardly. Her gaze darted to the side, then to the ground. Her mouth opened—but no sound came out. She was clearly trying to speak, but the words clung to her throat.
Yuuka, too, looked frozen. So many things she wanted to say—but the moment seemed too fragile.
Sensei, anticipating the silence, leaned down and whispered something in Lina's ear.
The tips of Lina's ears turned bright red.
"Don't—!" she hissed, turning to swat at him, but Sensei had already stepped back with a smug little smile on his face.
Taking a shaky breath, Lina looked up at Yuuka, her fingers fidgeting by her sides.
"Yuuka… I'm sorry for what I said earlier," she mumbled, eyes slowly lifting to meet hers. "I… I didn't know how much you worried about me."
Her face flushed, both from embarrassment and the emotional weight she had finally let out.
Yuuka felt the knot in her chest loosen. Her throat tightened with relief.
"No, I should be the one apologizing," Yuuka replied softly. "I pushed too hard. I should've tried to understand how you felt instead."
Lina quickly shook her head. "No, I got carried away by my own feelings. I—I didn't mean to yell at you, or run off…"
She trailed off, unable to hold Yuuka's gaze any longer.
Yuuka opened her mouth to respond—but her words caught as an old memory surged forward. That first day she met Lina… the same stubbornness, the same loneliness. The same eyes that quietly asked for someone to stay.
A soft smile spread across her lips. Without another word, Yuuka stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lina.
Lina's eyes widened.
"Wha—?"
"Shhh," Yuuka murmured, holding her tightly. "We both said what we needed to say. No more apologies, okay?"
Lina blinked, stunned. Then slowly, almost cautiously, she returned the hug.
From the side, Sensei watched the scene unfold, warmth blooming in his chest. He quietly raised the [Shittim Chest] tablet, aiming the camera at the pair.
But before he could tap the shutter, Arona's virtual avatar popped up on the screen with an unamused pout.
"Sensei, that might get you hunted down by Lina later," she said flatly.
Sensei hesitated... then slowly lowered the tablet.
Only to raise a small, older model phone in its place.
Click.
"Where did you even get that?" Arona sighed.
"Found it in the office," Sensei whispered back, barely suppressing a grin.
Just then, Chinatsu approached from behind, glancing between him and the girls.
"Sensei," she asked, her tone curious, "how did you convince Lina to open up?"
Sensei just smiled, eyes still on the heartwarming scene in front of them. "It's a secret," he replied lightly.
Chinatsu raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
A breeze rustled through the trees, and in that quiet golden hour, the tension finally melted into something gentler.
But Sensei's moment of peace was short-lived. He felt a cold shiver crawl down his spine.
He turned his head.
Lina was staring at him.
Did… she notice I took the picture?
His smile faltered. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple.
He should have taking serious of Arona warning before.
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The Next Morning – In Front of Schale Headquarters
A warm morning breeze drifted through the city, carrying the scent of blooming trees and early bakery deliveries. The glass exterior of Schale reflected the pale blue sky, a silent witness to the day's quiet beginning.
Lina stepped out of the building with a slight slouch, her backpack slung lazily over one shoulder. She blinked at the morning sun, still not quite awake, and exhaled slowly.
Behind her, Sensei followed with his usual unhurried gait, scrolling idly through something on his tablet.
Yuuka had been reluctant—very reluctant—to let Lina stay at Schale. But after a long conversation with Sensei last night, she gave in… on a few conditions. One of them still confused Lina: "You can stay, but don't even think about sharing a bed with Sensei!"Lina had only managed a bewildered nod. Schale was huge—Sensei had plenty of space to sleep in, after all.
Even so, she was grateful. Uninvited as she was, squatting in Sensei's supposed building for months, the fact that he didn't kick her out was more mercy than she'd expected.
As she walked, she glanced over her shoulder at him. Sensei looked up from his tablet, catching the stare.
"What's the matter, Lina?" he asked, tone light.
"…Nothing," Lina replied quickly, turning forward and walking a bit faster.
Today marked her return to Millennium Academy. After everything, it felt a little surreal. And Sensei? He was tagging along at Yuuka's request. Probably some official business.
As they crossed the corner, a memory flashed in Lina's mind on the rooftop…
The tips of her ears flushed red.
She suddenly turned with a clenched fist, ready to sock him.
Sensei flinched, instinctively raising his arms in defense.
But she stopped herself. No… not worth it.
With a dramatic "hmph," she turned again and stormed ahead, leaving a confused and slightly concerned Sensei behind.
At Millennium Academy
The gleaming towers of Millennium's campus loomed into view. Their sleek, high-tech architecture stood out even more under the morning sun, buzzing quietly with energy from solar panels and microdrones flitting around.
Lina felt it the moment they stepped onto the grounds—eyes. Lots of them. Familiar stares from old classmates, a few whispered voices.
She tightened her grip on her backpack strap.
Behind her, Sensei paused, eyes wide as he looked around.
"Oh-ho, no wonder Yuuka bragged about the academy yesterday. This place looks straight out of a sci-fi movie!"
"…Sensei, that's just the storage building." Lina muttered, dragging him toward the actual main building.
As the glass doors slid open, they were immediately met by a blur of pink.
"LINA-SENPAIIIIIII!!"
A high-pitched voice echoed down the corridor just before Kurosaki Koyuki—her vibrant pink twin-tails bouncing—launched herself forward and latched onto Lina like a guided missile.
"W-Wha—Koyuki?!" Lina staggered slightly under the force of the hug.
"I missed you so much!! Everyone did!" Koyuki beamed, clinging tightly. Her magenta eyes sparkled like she'd just found a long-lost puppy.
Lina gave her a few awkward pats on the back. "S-Sorry for worrying you, really. I'm fine now."
Sensei smiled beside them, giving Lina a quiet nod of approval.
Koyuki finally stepped back, then turned her head—only now noticing the adult beside her senpai.
"Hmm? Who's this guy?" Her expression turned curious. She circled Sensei like a hawk studying a new prey. "Wait… don't tell me… Is this your boyfriend, Senpai?!"
Lina nearly choked on air. "Wha—He's not—!!" She bent down and pinched Koyuki's cheek with practiced precision. "He's not my boyfriend! He's Sensei, okay?! He's only here because Yuuka called him!"
"Ow-ow-ow! Okay okay!" Koyuki squealed, rubbing her cheek with a pout. Then she looked back up at Sensei with wide-eyed energy. "Nice to meet you, Sensei! I'm Kurosaki Koyuki—fifteen, first year! You can just call me Koyuki!"
"Nice to meet you, Koyuki," Sensei said politely. "You've got... a lot of energy."
"Of course I do!" Koyuki said proudly, throwing up a peace sign.
Lina saw her opportunity—Koyuki was distracted. Now was her chance to slip away quietly to class. She turned—
And stopped. Standing directly in front of her, arms folded and expression unreadable, was none other than Hayase Yuuka.
"You're finally here," Yuuka said simply. "Come on, both of you. And you too, Koyuki."
Without waiting, she turned and began walking toward the faculty offices.
Lina sighed, shoulders drooping in surrender.
Koyuki blinked. "Did I do something wrong?"
"No," Lina muttered, falling into step.
Sensei followed with his hands in his coat pockets, a half-smile tugging at his lips. The hallway buzzed softly with the hum of digital panels.
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Inside the Seminar Office – Millennium Academy
The door to the Seminar office—the heart of Millennium's student council—slid open with a quiet whoosh, revealing the soft hum of data-screens and a warm beam of sunlight stretching through the windowed walls. The room felt organized and refined, with every paper in place, every screen active, and every file neatly coded.
At the far end, standing by a sleek holographic console, was a white-haired girl wearing a tailored Millennium uniform. Ushio Noa—secretary of the Seminar—looked up from her work and smiled at the incoming group.
"Oh? Yuuka-chan, you brought Sensei and Lina-chan," she said in her usual soft, almost musical tone. Her magenta eyes flicked between the two. "And Koyuki too, I see."
Koyuki stiffened. "E-Eh?! Did I do something wrong?!"
Yuuka sighed and shook her head. "No, Koyuki. Relax."
She then turned to gesture toward the chairs arranged in front of the desk. "Sensei, Lina—take a seat. Koyuki, please return to your own."
Obediently, they did as asked. Sensei sat with his tablet resting on his lap, while Lina hesitated slightly before slumping into the chair beside him. Koyuki skipped over to a nearby desk, dropping into her seat with an exaggerated spin.
Yuuka turned toward Noa. "Where's the president?"
Noa glanced at her device. "She had something urgent to handle. She'll probably join us soon."
"I see…" Yuuka muttered, before redirecting her gaze—sharp, focused—toward Lina.
Lina immediately looked away, already sensing the lecture incoming.
"Ahem." Yuuka cleared her throat, arms crossed. "Lina, you do realize how long you've been skipping classes, right?"
"…Yes," Lina replied quietly, eyes tracing the patterns on the floor.
Noa stepped forward and handed Yuuka a neatly printed report—an extensive list of Lina's absences and rule violations over the past few months.
Yuuka placed it on the desk with a thud. "We could technically overlook this because—well, yes, you did help save Kivotos from the Fox criminal incident. But if we act like none of this happened…" she tapped the list lightly, "it sends the wrong message to your juniors."
Lina looked up at her. Why is Yuuka being so strict today…?
Her eyes flicked toward Sensei, silently pleading for help.
But Sensei only gave her an encouraging smile and a thumbs-up.
"…"
Yuuka stepped around the desk with a surprisingly bright expression.
"So," she continued cheerfully, "as your official punishment—Koyuki will accompany you for the next two months, every day."
"…"
Lina blinked.
Koyuki blinked.
Then the pink-haired girl burst into joy. "WOOOOAAHHH!! TWO MONTHS?! WITH LINA-SENPAI?! YATTA!!!"
Koyuki leapt up from her seat, practically vibrating from excitement.
Lina just sat there. Emotionless. Hollow.
She… she wants me to babysit Koyuki, doesn't she…?
Across the room, Noa clapped her hands once. "That's a clever one, Yuuka. Efficient and symbolic."
Yuuka gave a proud nod. "Two birds, one stone."
Then she looked back at Lina. "That's all. You two can return to class now."
Lina remained frozen for a moment, trapped in the horror of her fate.
Koyuki, however, had other plans. She cheerfully grabbed Lina's hand and dragged her out the door.
"Let's spend the whole day together, Lina-senpai! Nihahaha~!"
The door slid shut behind them.
Silence returned to the Seminar room.
Sensei finally let out a breath, brushing his bangs back.
"Well played, Yuuka. So you remember what Lina need the most."
Yuuka smile and sat at the edge of her desk.
Noa looked at the doorway . "That might be exactly what she needs."
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(A/n: She needs a companion to help her feel like this is her second home, not a stranger's house.)